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SSFFF is a new, non-profit organization made
up of Party and Charter boat owners, Tackle and Bait Store Owners, Tackle Distributors, Bait Wholesalers, and others whose
livelihoods are dependent on a healthy and vibrant recreational fishing industry. All of these business owners
and professionals realize the importance of an equitable and scientifically accurate management strategy for Summer Flounder.
For Board of Directors and Committee Members click HERE
SSFFF is not affiliated with any other organizations.
Our goal was to start a group devoted to a singular purpose: Saving the Summer Flounder Fishery.
However, we are working with every organization that shares and are trying
to achieve the same goal, namely a healthy and vibrant Summer Flounder Fishery.
The tremendous economic impact of this one species,
Summer Flounder, is reflected in local tackle and bait shops, party and charter boats trips, dockside and over the road
fuel sales, hotel/motel accommodations, marinas, as well as shore community restaurants and cafes. We, as participants in
the Summer Flounder fishery, know that the summer flounder population is NOT in trouble and that current populations are substantial.
We believe that the flounder regulations we now abide by are overly restrictive and we fully expect that the quota will be
even smaller in 2008.
We cannot hope to keep this fishery thriving unless
we act now as a well-organized group with a common agenda and a comprehensive vision for the future! It is our aim to
act now before the certainty of a total fishing ban is put into effect in 2009!
Our Goals
Our
first, and most immediate goal will be to support HR 5425 which is an emergency legislative intervention that will enable stock managers a reasonable level of regulatory
flexibility. This will be done by working with the RFA, who have the structure and contacts already in place, along with the
proven ability to get things done in Washington. The commercial sector has its own lobbyists and we expect to work in tandem
with them on this issue as well. We will work with existing angling lobbying organizations and public sport fishing advocacy
groups. We recognize their significant political strengths and in-house lobbying expertise and will support every effort to
effect emergency regulatory relief that can allow our fishery to continue.
The second initiative will be to generate private
funds for a comprehensive scientific stock review.
We have already hired our own independent marine scientist(s) to generate the data needed to prove that the current summer flounder population targets and stock rebuilding deadlines,
are dangerously punitive, ridiculous in their intention and truly unnecessary!
In order to accomplish these goals, we are asking
for your help. Right now, we need your financial support to fund the political and scientific goals by sending a donation
to:
SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY
FUND
PO Box 86
Brielle, NJ 08730
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